Bollywood actor Kareena Kapoor Khan has said boys should be encouraged to express their emotions freely, stressing that sensitivity should not be viewed as a quality associated only with women. Speaking at the trailer launch of her upcoming film ‘Daayra’ in Mumbai on Monday, Kareena reflected on raising her two sons, Taimur and Jehangir, and said she wants them to grow up understanding kindness, responsibility and the importance of expressing their feelings.
The actor’s remarks came during a discussion around the themes explored in ‘Daayra’, an intense crime thriller directed by Meghna Gulzar that examines questions surrounding crime, justice, accountability and the boundaries of the law.
‘Men should be more kind’
Kareena said being a mother of two boys naturally makes her concerned about how they navigate the world and the values they grow up with. While parents want to protect their children, she said, it was equally important to teach boys that they have responsibilities towards others.
She said one of the qualities she hopes her sons retain is kindness, adding that men and boys should be encouraged to become more compassionate.
Kareena also challenged conventional ideas surrounding masculinity and emotional expression, saying boys should not feel compelled to suppress their emotions.
“I always tell my son, if he wants to cry, he should,” she said, stressing that there was nothing wrong with boys showing vulnerability. She said men experience difficult situations just as women do and should be able to express what they are feeling rather than being conditioned to hide their emotions.
‘Daayra’ explores law and justice
The discussion came against the backdrop of the themes explored in ‘Daayra’, which stars Kareena alongside Prithviraj Sukumaran. The two actors play senior police officers who find themselves on opposing sides of the same system as an investigation raises difficult questions about justice and accountability.
Kareena plays DCP Ajooni Kohli, while Prithviraj portrays DCP Raman Kumar. Inspired by true events, the film examines the moral conflict that emerges when questions of justice collide with established legal procedures.
The trailer, released on Monday, shows the two officers confronting each other during an investigation involving a controversial police encounter and juvenile crime.
The film marks the first on-screen collaboration between Kareena and Prithviraj and also reunites Kareena with Meghna Gulzar after their previous work together.
Written by Yash Keswani, Sima Agarwal and Meghna Gulzar, ‘Daayra’ is scheduled to release in cinemas on September 18.